MARYAM SHAH, QMI Agency

TORONTO - Those behind an online message board which displays "creepshots" of women unwittingly photographed in public places are now seeking privacy.

Anyone trying to access r/CreepShots Wednesday morning got the message: "The moderators of this subreddit have set it to private. You must be a moderator or approved submitter to view its contents."

Outrage over the legal photographs began online Monday, when an anonymous female Toronto resident posted a warning on another forum - r/Toronto.

Her warning was about a Toronto man -- known by the online name CreeperComforts -- who has been snapping photos of women in the downtown area without their knowledge.

While most of the women and contributors to the message board are from the U.S., the Toronto man submitted photos of women engaged in mundane tasks in public spaces.

His user account on Reddit -- the website hosting the forum -- no longer shows his "creepshots."

Police have said it is legal to take pictures of people in public.

"As a candid photographer, the idea behind my photography is to take pictures of what I deem to be attractive or appealing," the Toronto contributor wrote to QMI Agency on Tuesday.

His past entries include a comment about a woman bent over in a park: "See, this is an example of an upskirt that is perfectly legal to post because the goods are plainly visible to the general public. Circumstances like this are rare, cherish them!"

His photographs bear such titles as "I'd busk her fest!" and "Who likes a MILF in a skirt?"

Moderator PIMA said they went private following an alleged threat to a moderator.

"Despite the fact a moderator has had his real-life identity compromised, I am more determined than ever to bring back CreepShots and make it even bigger (the) second time around," he wrote Wednesday.

He added if anyone requests their photo be removed, they usually oblige.

"Within moments of a request, we take it down," he wrote.

Reddit's rules say a user's personal information cannot be posted. The rules also state: "You further agree not to use any sexually suggestive language or to provide ... photographs, images ... that are sexually suggestive or appeal to a prurient interest."

Requests for an interview from Reddit went unanswered Wednesday.

Toronto police said no one has yet filed a complaint after noticing their photos on the board. With access restricted, it would be near-impossible to view the photos.